Control. And the Line.

It’s not a router bit that creates the hard line between the spindle deck and the saddle.

When I teach, I always build the project along with the students. I have good reasons for doing this, some of which I’ve mentioned before. But I’ve found there’s another reason I do it that I’ve never mentioned – or even fully realized.

First: here are the reasons I build the project during the class.

1. So I can give my project to a student who has screwed the pooch and ruined theirs.

2. So I don’t go mad with boredom.

3. So I can combat my imposter syndrome. (Hey look – I do know how to build a chair!)

4. So I have something to sell (assuming I don’t have to give it to a student) because the school is paying me only $200 a day.

Here’s the fifth reason, which I am coming to grips with only this year. So I can answer the question: “How do you do <that operation> over and over without f-ing it up?”

<That operation> could be anything: boring a mortise, sawing a tenon, drilling plumb, splitting out legs or jacking off …